Restaurant fire – Paddington

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a fire at a restaurant on Shelden Square in Paddington.

Part of a single storey restaurant was damaged by fire and the ventilation system at the rear of the building was destroyed in the blaze. Firefighters rescued one man from the ground floor kitchen. One woman and a man left the building before the Brigade arrived. They were all treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews after suffering from smoke inhalation.

The Brigade’s 999 Control Officer’s took nine calls to the blaze.

The fire was caused by oil igniting in a wok, which then spread via grease in the extraction system.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “We'd like to remind restaurant and takeaway owners to make sure that they don't have dirty ducting.

"If you don't clean your extraction system regularly, you're at a greater risk of ducting fires.”

Firefighters' top tips for restaurants and takeaways:

• Have ducting in your extraction system (ventilation) cleaned regularly
• Ensure ducting is installed correctly
• Make sure all electrical items are tested and maintained- check regularly and don’t allow employees to bring their own kitchen appliances to work
• Take extra care when cooking with hot oil as it can easily overheat and catch fire
• Never fill the pan more than one third full of fat or oil
• Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil- oil and water are a dangerous mix
• Use an electronic deep fat fryer if possible- they have automatic temperature controls and are much safer
• Ensure your electrical system is regularly tested
• Complete your Fire Risk Assessment and make an emergency plan

The Brigade was called at 1735 and the fire was under control by 1929. Fire crews from Paddington, Kensington, Euston and North Kensington fire stations attended the scene.